eResearch SA Charter

PDF  eResearch SA Charter.PDF

In February 2010 the eResearch SA Board reviewed the strategic objectives of eResearch SA and approved a Charter that sets out the functions and operational model that will be used to meet those objectives in an efficient and transparent manner.

eResearch SA has developed a summary of this charter that sets out the salient characteristics of the Charter for researchers, administrators and policy makers in South Australia.

Objectives of eResearch SA

The formal objectives of eResearch SA are set out in the eResearch SA Joint Venture agreement between the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and Flinders University.
These can be summarised as follows:

• To stimulate, accelerate and promote the adoption of eResearch in South Australia by
• Linking and facilitating institutional and national eResearch strategies
  
• Building eResearch understanding, skills and capacity within the research sector
  
• Delivering eResearch services
  

Functions

In order to meet its objectives, eResearch SA performs the following functions:

National Representation

Representing South Australia’s eResearch interests nationally by

• Participating in national eResearch programs, forums and consultations
• Providing a South Australian base for national eResearch programs and entities
  
• Coordinating cross-institutional responses to national opportunities
  
• Advocating for South Australia’s share of national resources

Local Coordination and Leadership

Leading and coordinating eResearch activities in South Australia by

• Providing advice, consultancy and hands-on support to current and potential users of eResearch services, methods and infrastructure; and
• Building a critical mass of specialist eResearch staff supporting national research programs and priorities
  
• Other initiatives as agreed by the eResearch SA Board.

eResearch Staff Hosting

Provide an environment in which skilled eResearch staff can be employed, accommodated  and supported on behalf of

• National eResearch initiatives requiring a South Australian presence; and
• Discipline specific research programs requiring dedicated eResearch expertise.
  

Capability building

Developing researchers’ capacity to use eResearch methods, services and infrastructure in South Australia by

• Fostering, facilitating and advocating eResearch skills development in the research and higher education community.
• Building awareness of eResearch and facilitating collaboration across South Australia’s research sector; and
  
• Raising the profile of successful eResearch practitioners and projects

eResearch Infrastructure Services

Deliver, either directly or in collaboration with others, research-oriented ICT services to researchers in response to demand and subject to appropriate charging mechanisms. Services include

• High Performance Computing
• Data storage and management
  
• Distributed (grid, cloud) computing
  
• Application, database and virtual machine hosting
  
• Web hosting, including collaboration portals and wikis
  
• Video collaboration services
  
• Visualisation

Business Operations

Operate eResearch SA as an effective and efficient organisation through the delivery of business functions including administrative support, financial management, human resource management, public relations and workplace safety.

Key success factors

A successful eResearch SA will be characterised by a series of outputs (external outcomes) that deliver benefits to South Australian researchers.
In order to achieve these however, some key inputs (internal outcomes) must be secured.

Outputs – External outcomes

• Research activities translate into measurable research outcomes
  
• Customer satisfaction – researchers recognise and appreciate the contribution of eResearch to their research
  
• South Australia receives its fair share of nationally distributed eResearch funding and other resources.
  

Inputs – Internal outcomes

• eResearch SA operates under a sustainable business model supported by predictable funding sources – albeit that the level of funding in each year may be subject to negotiation.
  
• eResearch SA stakeholders have consistent and clearly understood expectations. The Participants’ expectations do not exceed the funding available to meet them.
  
• eResearch SA offers an attractive workplace to talented individuals
  

Business model

In order to succeed as an effective and sustainable entity, eResearch SA must maintain base-line operations and profile within the research community.
The core operations and business activities of eResearch SA which are valued equally by all Participants are funded from operating revenue obtained from Participant subscriptions and revenue-raising activities such as consulting and staff hosting. These activities include

• national representation;
• local coordination and leadership;
  
• eResearch staff hosting; and
  
• business operations.
  

In addition, infrastructure services that are consumed (and valued) by the Participants differentially are funded in full on a user-pays basis under Service Agreements executed with individual institutions. Capital purchases and upgrades (primarily ICT infrastructure) are generally funded from infrastructure grants such as EIF and LEIF.